Coast Guard searching for overdue hunters in Prince William Sound

ANCHORAGE, Alaska — The Coast Guard is currently searching for two men reported at least a day overdue on a hunting trip from Whittier to Montague Island.

The Coast Guard received a call from a concerned family member at about 3:35 p.m. Monday. The two men were overdue and traveling in a 22-foot silver aluminum boat with red trim and a beige canvas top.

The reporting source confirmed the men were experienced hunters and outdoorsmen with ample supplies for the voyage.

The Coast Guard issued an Urgent Marine Information Broadcast (UMIB) and launched an MH-60 Jayhawk helicopter and crew from Air Station Kodiak.

A Good Samaritan vessel contacted the Coast Guard and reported seeing the aluminum craft in Hanning Bay on Saturday and that the individuals had been in no distress.

Another search and rescue case developed and the helicopter crew was diverted to respond as they were already airborne. A second helicopter and crew from Kodiak was launched to continue the search for the overdue hunters.

While en route to search for the hunters, the second helicopter was diverted to respond to a third search and rescue case.

With Coast Guard air crews and assets tasked to the maximum responding to three cases simultaneously, the Coast Guard is reaching out to the Alaska State Troopers to facilitate a first light search.

Actions are currently being taken to ready the Coast Guard Auxiliary to get underway from Whittier to conduct a trackline search.

Weather conditions for the area are forecast as mostly cloudy with isolated rain and snow showers with north to west winds at 10 to 25 mph. Gust are forecast for this morning up to 35 mph, temperatures are expected in the upper 20s and 30s.